Structural determinants driving homoserine lactone ligand selection in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa LasR quorum-sensing receptor.

ABSTRACT: Quorum sensing is a cell-cell communication process that bacteria use to orchestrate group behaviors. Quorum sensing is mediated by signal molecules called autoinducers. Autoinducers are often structurally similar, raising questions concerning how bacteria distinguish among them. Here, we use the Pseudomonas aeruginosa LasR quorum-sensing receptor to explore signal discrimination. The cognate autoinducer, 3OC₁₂ homoserine lactone (3OC₁₂HSL), is a more potent activator of LasR than other homoserine lactones. However, other homoserine lactones can elicit LasR-dependent quorum-sensing responses, showing that LasR displays ligand promiscuity. We identify mutants that alter which homoserine lactones LasR detects. Substitution at residue S129 decreases the LasR respo

SUBMITTER: McCready AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6320529 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature